Parents are trying to save Southbrook Academy in Bridgewater

A group of passionate and dedicated parents are trying to save Southbrook Academy, a private school that’s been an institution in Bridgewater for the past 30 years, parents said Friday afternoon.

“It’s a gem of the community. Socially, culturally and academically, it’s just a great, great school,” said Albert Flanders, who has a first grader and a fifth grader at Southbrook.

By Rebecca Hyman

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Rebecca Hyman

Posted May. 10, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 10, 2013 at 10:23 AM

By Rebecca Hyman

Posted May. 10, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 10, 2013 at 10:23 AM

Bridgewater

» Social News

A group of passionate and dedicated parents are trying to save Southbrook Academy, a private school that’s been an institution in Bridgewater for the past 30 years, parents said Friday afternoon.

“It’s a gem of the community. Socially, culturally and academically, it’s just a great, great school,” said Albert Flanders, who has a first grader and a fifth grader at Southbrook.

Southbrook Academy/Joyful Learning Preschool, a privately owned for-profit school serving pre-K through 7th grade and located at 792 Plymouth St., is facing financial difficulties and parents are investigating the feasibility of converting it into a non-profit institution, Flanders said.

Husband and wife Jennifer and James Berry of Easton purchased the school in 2009 and lease the building from the school’s founder. Jennifer, a former teacher, also serves as the head of school.

Flanders said the problem arose when enrollment came in 10 percent lower than expected this year, a reduction of 16 students.

He said the drop is no reflection on Southbrook, which has maintained its high quality and strong sense of community, but seems instead to be the result of the improvement in the public schools in town following a Proposition 2 ½ override in 2010.

The problem was exacerbated more recently when some families who had planned to enroll this fall became concerned the school was in trouble and pulled out, he said. That was a self-fulfilling prophecy that lead the owners to worry they might not be able to remain open next year, Flanders said.

As a result, they felt obliged not to use next year’s tuition receipts for current year expenses — creating a shortage of funds to meet expenses for the remainder of the school year, Flanders said.

Parents are working together “to figure out how to bridge this gap and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Flanders said.

That may mean an infusion of cash from parents, he said, many of whom are willing to do whatever it takes to solve the short-term problem, finish the school year and pave the way for a long-term solution, Flanders said.

Flanders said he himself was drawn to the school because it offered Spanish, music and art in kindergarten. But it’s not just the curriculum that’s special. It’s the people. He’d be comfortable having his kids visit any of their classmates’ homes.

“They’re all well-mannered and studious and the parents are loving and involved,” Flanders said.

Flanders said teachers are on board as well.

“They love the school. They love the kids. They are willing to stick it out if a solution’s on the horizon,” he said.

Flanders said the school is hamstrung by its for-profit status. It can’t seek donations or grants or set up an endowment, the way non-profit schools can. Most private schools are non-profits, he said.

Page 2 of 2 - “It is a crisis but it’s one that working together as a community we can overcome and be in a much better position in the end,” Flanders said.

He said the Berrys have offered to sell the school for $1 and remove themselves from the situation if parents feel that would help or stay involved if that would be more helpful.

So far, students haven’t missed a day of school and parents are working hard to keep it that way, Flanders said.